Same-sex marriage is a widely used term now. But in the early 1970s, there were zero states banning or allowing same-sex marriage, and no states offered civil unions or domestic partnerships. Massachusetts' role in bringing same-sex marriage to the US was part of a much bigger effort:

What's next?

NOTE: Map represents when same-sex marriage and civil union laws take effect, not when they are approved or announced. Though the timeline refers to bans by state statute and constitutional amendment, the map of same-sex marriage bans only includes constitutional amendments and not state statutes.

In the 10 years since the first same-sex weddings in Massachusetts, several states and the District of Columbia have followed suit, allowing gay marriage, while 27 states amended their constitutions to ban such marriages. Massachusetts played a part in a much bigger effort bringing same-sex marriage to the US.

Share this:

State-by-state history

OVERALL US HISTORY

Allows same-sex marriages

Constitutional bans on same-sex marriage

Part or all of constitutional ban struck down, decision not immediately in effect

Ban on same-sex marriage upheld by 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals panel; to be heard by Supreme Court in April